Sports animeare eternally popular, with each season containing a couple of shows that fit the genre. Be it baseball, soccer, running, basketball, or horseracing(girls), fans craving stories with a competitive edge should not struggle to find something that suits their fancy, and a fondness for the core activity is not generally required.
As common as this genre is on the whole,combat sports animeare considerably harder to come by, especially if battle shonen shows that incorporate martial arts likeDragon Ball Zare ignored. While the pickings are slim, the industry has produced a couple of great series that revolve around boxing, judo, MMA, or wrestling. Let’s highlight the best of the best.
Although incorporating somecute girls doing cute thingselements,“Ippon” againtakes its chosen combat sport, judo, very seriously. Set in high school, the anime follows a group of girls who form a new judo club, and they have wildly different levels of experience.
The season builds up to a 5v5 tournament that is quite intense; however,“Ippon” againis arguably at its best when focusing on the girls' training and their friendships. Due to only lasting one season and a sequel seeming unlikely at this point,“Ippon” againcomes to an end just as it is picking up steam. The girls are likable and share believable banter, and the anime provides a few quick looks into their pasts and home lives.
OK, yes,Keijosounds dumb on paper. Honestly, it is also kind of dumb in execution, but the story subverts the inherent silliness of its concept to create a surprisingly effectivecombat sports anime. So,what isKeijo? Well, girls engage in battles where they must use certain parts of their bodies to knock their opponents into a pool.
Fanservice is the selling point here, butKeijoworks because it makes a genuine attempt to tell a proper sports story. The characters are 100% committed to their chosen field, and the fights feel huge due to taking place in packed stadiums. The animation is also pretty good, at least by the standards of ecchi anime.
Generally,professional wrestlingis not regarded as a combat sport due to its predetermined nature, and that is by no means meant to be a criticism. That said,Tiger Maskplays things straight rather than providing a kayfabe-shattering behind-the-scenes look at the wrestling industry, which makes sense since the 1968 manga and original anime debuted at a time when professional wrestling tried to present itself as legit.
Except forTomorrow’s Joe,Tiger Maskis arguably the most influentialcombat sport anime of all time. However, the 1969 and 1981 series are hard to revisit in this day and age, even though they still have some charm to them. Fortunately, newcomers can check out 2016’sTiger Mask W. Despite being a sequel to the original show, the story is pretty easy to follow, and it is filled with references to Japan’s pro wrestling scene.
A proper forgotten gem,Yawaratells a rather unique story for the genre. Typically,sports protagonistsare defined by their burning passion to excel at their chosen activities, refusing to back down when their efforts are dismissed and their dreams mocked. Yawara is pretty much the direct opposite, with the girl only practicing judo due to her grandfather’s insistence that she not only trains but also aims to take part in the Olympics. She wants to leave the sport behind and lead her own life, a desire that buckles under many familial and social pressures.
This is such a refreshing direction to take a sports anime, andYawaraexplores not only its characters' mentalities but also the culture that encourages this type of behavior. While certainly realistic and, at times, heavy, this anime also has plenty of lighthearted and slice-of-life moments, so it is not a depressing watch by any stretch of the imagination.
Unlike, say, baseball, combat sports are lucky to receive one anime. Compared to most disciplines, sumo has earned a few animated showcases over the decades, even if most of them have been lost to time (for example, an early ’90s anime calledAa Harimanada). Due to being far more popular and readily available than any other series,Hinomaru Sumois unquestionably the definitive sumo anime, and it is based on afantastic shonen manga.
Despite having all the skill in the world to become a top-notch sumo wrestler, Ushio’s small size has seemingly killed any hope he has of going pro. However, he is not ready to quit yet, and his only hope is to excel in the high school scene.Hinomaru Sumofollows Ushio and a few other wrestlers as they take on challenges that should overwhelm them in an attempt to enter a sport that looks down upon them.
While the story is a bit rushed and by the numbers,Hinomaru Sumoshines during its brilliantly animated fights. The nature of sumo means these battles are short explosions of intensity rather than lengthy struggles, which helps set the show apart from other popularcombat sports anime.
Due to how ridiculously over-the-top the story gets,Bakiwalks the line between combat sports and battle shonen, and the Netflix seasons have more in common with the latter than the form. Nevertheless, the anime revolves exclusively around martial arts, withmost disciplines receiving some representation.
The classicBaki the Grapplerseries devotes a whole season to a mixed martial arts tournament, which plays out like a ridiculous but still awesome version of the MMA competitions that were held during the ’90s. As bizarre as some of the later arcs are,Bakijust manages to remain believable enough to not buckle under the weight of its sillier concepts. Crucially, the fights are breathtaking, gory, uncomfortable, and unforgettable.
Created in tribute to arguably the most important sports anime of all time,Megalo Boxdoes more than enough to stand on its own two feet, all the while telling a story that seamlessly blends tradition with sci-fi. An evolution of boxing that utilizes mecha arms, Megaloboxing is inescapably popular and, unsurprisingly, money-driven.Season 1 follows Joe, an essentially homeless guy who engages in street fights. He decides to take part in the big Megalonia competition, all in the hope of taking out the champion.
Although very, very good, the 2018 season does not take too many risks in its storytelling, telling a conventional zero-to-hero story fueled by a charming protagonist and some of the best choreography in the combat sports genre. However, the sequel isMegalo Box’s true crowning achievement, one that takes Joe on a more nuanced and emotion-driven journey of self-discovery.
Arguably the purestmartial arts animeof all time,Kengan Ashurathrows the world’s top fighters into a bloody no-holds-barred tournament. Sure, the story is muddied by corporations, business politics, betrayals, obsessions, and a co-protagonist who does not do all that much, but none of those elements diminish the anime’s main selling point: The kengan fights.
Putting aside the preliminaries,Kengan Ashurarevolves around a 32-fighter elimination tournament, and each battle is shown in its entirety. Even though most of the characters barely have any identity beyond their martial arts field, each encounter plays out like two masters who are willing to do nearly anything to achieve victory. A few characters aside, every participant seems like they could lose, and this uncertainty really enhances the overall experience.
Without question,Tomorrow’s Joesits above every othercombat sports animein terms of importance and influence. Frankly,the “combat” qualifier is not even required. Based on Asao Takamori’s manga, the anime debuted in 1970, producing nearly 80 episodes over the next two years.Tomorrow’s Joereturned in 1980 for a sequel season that not only surpassed its predecessor in every way but also holds up shockingly well considering its age.
Putting aside the dated animation (which was great for its era and is still watchable), the anime tells a powerful story defined by dedication, sacrifice, tragedy, and triumph. While showing the dizzying highs of the boxing world,Tomorrow’s Joedoes not shy away from the harsh realities that come with this life. Ignore its age,Tomorrow’s Joeis a masterpiece and undeniably one of thebest combat sports animeof all time.
Very little separatesHajime no IppoandTomorrow’s Joe, and the latter likely inspired the former. That said,Hajime no Ippo’s relative recency makes it a more accessible option, especially since Madhouse’s animation is pretty much timeless. Bullied and introverted, Ippo takes up boxing after meeting Takamura, a fighter who is aiming for the belt. Despite lacking any fighting skills, Ippo’s physical strength, honest nature, and tenacity convince Kamogawa gym’s coach to give the youngster a try, setting them all down a road to superstardom.
Except for a few fights that overstay their welcome and a couple of questionable jokes,Hajime no Ippois nearly the perfect sports anime. The matches are grueling slugfests with top-tier animation that ensures every punch lands and strategies that are easy to follow regardless of a viewer’s familiarity with boxing. When not focusing on the ring,Hajime no Ippocan rely on strong and grounded characterization, along with some of the funniest humor in shonen.
